Trailer for erecting and transporting storage tanks

ABSTRACT

The tank handling trailer includes an elongated main frame connectible at its front end to a tractor and having a tank supporting mast pivotally supported at its rear end for movement from an upright tank erecting position to a horizontal forwardly extended transport position overlying about the rear half length of the main frame. A tank in picked up directly by the upright pivoted mast, and then moved to a horizontal position wherein it is supported on the mast and main frame for transport to an erection location. The tank is erected by simply moving the pivoted mast from the horizontal transport position to the upright tank erecting position therefor.

United States Patent Adam et a].

[ Aug. 29, 1972 [54] TRAILER FOR ERECTING AND TRANSPORTING STORAGE TANKS[72] Inventors: Vernon F. Adam, R.R. #1,Wellman, Iowa 52356; Carl A.Vogel, 110 N. Chesnay, Keota, Iowa 52248 22 Filed: Jan. 14,1971

21 App1.No.: 106,379

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I-laller ..214/501 XBatterton ..214/501 X Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay Attorney-RudolphL. Lowell [57] ABSTRACT The tank handling trailer includes an elongatedmain frame 'connectible at its front end to a tractor and having a tanksupporting mast pivotally supported at its rear end for movement from anupright tank erecting position to a horizontal forwardly extendedtransport position overlying about the rear half length of the mainframe. A tank in picked up directly by the upright pivoted mast, andthen moved to a horizontal position wherein it is supported on the mastand main frame for transport to an erection location. The tank iserected by simply moving the pivoted mast from the horizontal transportposition to the upright tank erecting position therefor.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures FMENTEOM1229 um 3.687.319

sum 1 0F 3 PATENTEDwsze m2 SHEEI 3 OF 3 IN VENTOPS. VERNON ADAM CARL A;VOGEL ATTOP/YEX TRAILER FOR ERECTING AND TRANSPORTING STORAGE TANKSSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The tank handling trailer of this invention isof a simple and rugged construction and efficient in operation to handlea single large tank of about a 25,000 gallon capacity, or a pair of12,000 gallon tanks, for transport and erection purposes. In itstransport position the pivoted tank-carrying mast is in longitudinalalignment with cooperating side frame members that form part of thetrailer main frame so as to provide a continuous bearing support for thetank over the full length of the tank. Leg extensions for the lower endof the tank-carrying mast, when in a tank pick-up operation, areadjustable to ground engaging positions for insertion of foot portionsthereon into engagement with the underside of the tank. This isaccomplished by merely backing the trailer until the mast is against aside of the tank. With the tank then secured to the mast by chains orthe like, the tank is directly movable on the mast to a transportposition. In an erecting operation the main frame is stabilized againstlateral and longitudinal movements and is vertically adjustable relativeto an inclined ground surface to provide for the positioning of theupright mast substantially normal to the ground surface on which thetank is to be erected. The operation of the tank handling trailer iscontrolled from a single control station located at the front end of thetrailer so that the overall operation is directly observable by thetrailer operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofthe tank handling trailer of this invention shown in assembly relationwith a tractor vehicle and illustrating the tank-carrying frame in anintermediate moved position;

FIG. 2 is a reduced side elevation of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1showing the tank-carrying frame in a transport position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the trailer in FIG. 1 showing the tank-carryingframe in a horizontally extended transport position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line 4 4 inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear portion of thetrailer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6 6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the rear portion of thetrailer showing the tank-carrying frame in the upright tank erectingposition therefor;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view as seen on the line 8 8 inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational detail view showing a tank supporting leg thatforms part of the tank-carrying frame; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic showing of a hydraulic control system for thetrailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the drawings,the trailer of this invention, indicated generally as in FIG. 1, isillustrated as including as elongated main frame 16 and a pivotedtank-carrying frame 17. The frame 16 (FIGS. 1

0 surface 23 of a corresponding tubular beam member 19. In oneembodiment of the invention, the tubular beam members 19 are about 32feet long and the channel beam members are about 16 feet long with bothof the beam members 19 and 21 having a vertical dimension of about 8inches. Each beam structure 18 thus includes a front section defined bythe length thereof which includes a channel beam 21 and a rear sectionof reduced vertical height that is defined by the length of the tubularbeam 19 located rearwardly of a channel beam 21.

The tubular beams 19 are connected together by a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transverse beam members 24 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Thefront ends of the beams structures 18 (FIG. 1 and 2) terminate ingooseneck extensions 26, the horizontal head portions 27 of which areconnected together by a pair of vertically spaced plate members theupper one 28 of which forms an operators deck or station. Attachedto'the underside of the lower plate member 29 is a draft member 31connectible with a fifth wheel mechanism 32 that is mounted on a usualtype tractor vehicle 33. A pair of lift jacks 35 arranged at oppositesides of the main frame 16 are secured to corresponding beam structures18 adjacent the front ends thereof. The lift jacks are utilized in ausual manner to effect connection and disconnection of the draft member31 with the fifth wheel mechanism 32.

The rear end of the trailer frame 16 (FIG. 3) is supported on a pair ofidentical wheel assemblies 34 arranged in tandem. Each wheel assemblyincludes a housing member 36 provided with a torsion bar or shaft 37,each end of which carries a crank arm 38 on which a wheel 39 isrotatably supported. The wheels 39 of the wheel assemblies 34 are thusin torsion suspension for yieldable support of the trailer frame. Ahousing member 36 adjacent each of its ends is secured directly by anysuitable means to the under surface of a corresponding tubular beam 19.Fenders 41 for the wheels 39 are mounted on the pivoted frame 17.

Located behind the wheel assemblies 34 and mounted on corresponding onesof the tubular beams 19 is a pair of outrigger units 43 (FIGS. 3 and 5),each of which'comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder assemblyhaving a cylinder 44 and an associated downwardly projected piston rod46, the lower end of which carries a ground engaging base plate 47. Theground plates 47 are moved downwardly into ground engagement when atank, shown at 48 in FIGS; 1 and 7 is either being erected or picked upfor transport and are in upper ground clearing positions when the tank48 is in transport, as shown in FIG. 2.

The tank-carrying pivoted frame 17 (FIGS. 1 and 3) includes a pair oftubular side members 49 that are pivotally connected to the tubularbeams 19 of the vehicle frame 16 at positions rearwardly of theoutrigger units 43. The side members 49 have cross sectional dimensionsequal to the cross sectional dimensions of the tubular beams 19 but areonly about one-half the length of a tubular beam 19. Additionally, theside members 49 of the pivoted frame 17 are spaced transversely apart adistance equal to the transverse spacing of the tubular beams 19 and arearranged in the vertical planes of the tubular members.

As shown in FIG. 5, what will be referred to as the connected ends 51 ofthe side members 49 are pivotally supported on an associated tubularbeam 19 by means including a pair of plates 52 welded to the oppositesides of a side member 49 and projected outwardly therefrom so as tostraddle an associated tubular beam 19. A tubular beam 19 (FIG. 6) isprovided with a transversely extended sleeve bearing 53 for rotatablyreceiving a pivot pin 54 the ends of which project laterally outwardlyof a tubular beam 19 and through the plates 52, to which they aresecured as by weldments.

The side members 49 are connected together for concurrent pivotalmovement by longitudinally spaced transverse brace member 56 (FIGS. and7) that project forwardly of the side members 49, when the pivoted frame17 is in an upright position to provide for a curved side wall portionof a tank 48 being received between the side members 49 in contactengagement with the corner edges thereof indicated at 57 in FIG. 5.

It is thus seen that the pivoted frame 17 is pivotally movable to anupright position, shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, wherein the side members 49are located rearwardly of the rear end faces of the tubular beams 19,and to a horizontal forwardly extended transport position (FIG. 2)wherein the side members are vertically above and in resting engagementon the rear sections of the tubular beams 19. In the transport positionof the pivoted tank-carrying frame 17, the side members 49 are inlongitudinal alignment with the channel beams 21 with their free ends 58adjacent to the rear ends of the channel beams. The comer edges 57 (FIG.5) of the side members 49 and the upper inner edges 59 (FIG. 4) of thechannel beams 21 are thus in linear alignment over the full length ofthe beam structures 18. The tank 48 is thus cradled between thestructures 18 for resting engagement thereon over the full length of thetank.

For pivotally moving the tank-carrying frame 17 to its tank erecting andtransport positions there is pro vided a pair of like hoist structures61 (FIG. 7), corresponding to associated pairs of tubular beams 19 andside members 49. Each hoist structure 61 includes a pivoted link system62 for pivotally interconnecting a tubular beam with a correspondingside member. A link system comprises what will be referred to as a guidelink 63 and a lift link 64 having adjacent inner ends pivotallyconnected together at 66. A guide link 63 is of a channel shape theouter end 67 of which is pivotally supported on a shaft 68 extendedtransversely of the trailer frame 16 and mounted in brackets 69 whichare connected to and depend downwardly from the underside of the tubularbeams 19.

The outer end 71 of a lift link 64 is pivotally connected to a sidemember 49 by means of a stub shaft 72 which projects transverselythrough an associated side member 49. Located between the side members49 is a crank or member 73 for connecting together the stub shafts 72.The crank member 73 projects in the direction of the brace members 56 soas to be in a clearance relation with a tank 48 carried on the pivotedframe 17.

To actuate each of the link systems 62 to folded and unfolded positionstherefor corresponding to the transport and tank erecting positions,respectively, of the pivoted frame 17 each hoist structure 61 has alinearly extendible and retractable power unit 74, illustrated as adouble acting hydraulic cylinder assembly having a cylinder 76 andassociated piston rod 77. The guide links 63 and lift links 64 are ofchannel shapes in transverse cross section with a lift link 64additionally being of a triangular shape in side elevation. The free endof the piston rod 77 (FIG. 8) is extended between the side legs of alift link 64 for pivotal connection therewith by a. pin 78 at a positionadjacent the apex portion 79 of the lift link 64. The closed end of thecylinder 76 is located within a guide link 63 for pivotal connection at81 with the side legs thereof at a position adjacent to but spacedupwardly from the pivot shaft 68.

When the tank-carrying frame 17 is in its upright position, as shown inFIG. 7, the guide links 63 are extended substantially verticallyupwardly from the tubular beams 19 with the lift links 64 horizontallyextended between the side members 19 and the guide links 63. With thepivoted frame 17 in its transport position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3, the hydraulic and assemblies 74 are retracted and housedsubstantially between the legs of corresponding guide links 63 whichextend substantially horizontally along side of an adjacent beamstructure 18. In this respect it will be noted that the side legs of alift link 64 are located outwardly from the side legs of a correspondingguide link 63 to provide for the folding together of associated links 63and 64. As shown in FIG. 2, the transport position of each hoiststructure is defined by the engagement of the inner end of a lift link64 with a corresponding stop plate 65 (FIG. 7) mounted to the outside ofan adjacent beam structure 18.

In order to pick up a tank 48 standing in an upright position on theground surface, the connected end 5] of each side member 49 of thepivoted frame 17 (FIGS. 7 and 9) is provided with an adjustable legextension 82 the outer end of which carries a flat foot member 83. A legextension 82 is comprised of a tubular body member received in atelescopic relation within the connected end 51 of a corresponding sidemember 49 for extension and retraction to an adjusted position. Anadjusted position is maintained by a chain 84, one end of which isattached at 86 to the foot member 83 and the opposite end of which isadjustably connected to a hook 87 secured to a side member 49.

To pick up a tank 48, the pivoted frame 17 is initially moved to itsupright position of FIG. 7. The chains 84 are then disconnected from thehooks 87 to permit downward extension of the legs 82 until the footportions 83 thereon are resting on the ground surface. The chains 84 arethen connected to the hooks 87 to prevent further extension of the legs82 from the side members 49. With the pivoted frame 17 adjacent the tank48 the trailer 15 is moved rearwardly toward the tank to insert the feet83 underneath the tank so that the tank is in resting support on thefeet and closely adjacent to the side members 49.

With the tank in a supported position on the feet portions 83, holdingchains 88, illustrated as two in number spaced longitudinally of thetank 48, are manipulated to secure the tank firmly against the sidemembers 49. A chain 88 has the opposite ends thereof attachable to theside members 49 and is equipped intermediate its ends with a well-knowntype chain tightening and locking device 89 which functions to tightenthe chain 88 to pull the tank 48 into an engaged position with thecorner edges 57 of the side members 49. To facilitate handling of thechains 88 the pivoted frame 17 is equipped with a ladder 90.

With the outrigger units 43 extended into ground engagement to stabilizethe trailer 15 against lateral tilting movement the hoist structures 61are operated to move the tank 48 from an upright position shown in FIG.7, to its transport position shown in FIG. 2. In the transport positionthe tank 48 is secured directly to the beam structures 18 by chains 85extended about the upper portion of the tank and attached to hooks 95carried on the beam structures. In erecting the tank 48 at a storagestation, the above procedure is reversed.

Where a pair of small tanks about half the length of a tank 48 are to behandled the above procedure for the handling of a single large tank 48is followed including movement of the pivoted frame 17 to its transportposition. At this point in the operation the first small tank beinghandled is released from the pivoted frame 17 by removal of the chains88 and moved forwardly to a supported position only on the inner upperedges 59 of the channel beams 21. This first small tank is then securedto the beam structures 18 by the chains 85. The pivoted frame 17 is thenoperated in the manner above described for the large tank 48 to pick upthe second small tank, which in transport remains secured to the pivotedframe by the chains 88.

In the event a tank should be removed from or erected upon an irregularground surface the lift jacks 35 and the outrigger units 43 may berelatively operated to position the pivoted frame 17, when in an uprightposition, in a substantially parallel relation with the axis of the tankbeing handled.

For operating the lift jacks 35, outrigger units 43 and hydrauliccylinder assemblies 74, the operators platform 28 (FIGS. 1 and 3) isequipped with a power unit 91, illustrated as an internal combustionengine of air cooled type, for driving a hydraulic pump unit 92 whichincludes a pump 93 (FIG. and a reservoir 94 that form part of ahydraulic control system. A multi-valve control unit 96, of acommercially available type, is operatively connected with the pump andreservoir to provide for a selective manual actuation of control levers97a 97d, inclusive. As shown, the levers 97a and 97b correspond to thelift cylinders 35 and hoist cylinders 74, respectively; and each lever97c and 97d independently control the operation of an outrigger cylinder43.

As is well-known each control lever may be operated independently of orjointly with the other control levers for reversed movement from acenter neutral position therefor to provide for a reciprocal operationof the hydraulic cylinders corresponding thereto. By virtue of thelocation of the control station on the head portions 27 of the gooseneckextensions 26, the operation of the trailer is directly visible to thetrailer operator so as to facilitate the overall operation for handlingtanks.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since changes and modification can be made therein which arewithin the full intended scope of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:

1. A trailer for handling storage tanks for transport and erectioncomprising:

a. a main frame,

b. a pivoted frame,

c. means pivotally connecting one end of said pivoted frame on said mainframe for movement of the pivoted frame to the first uprighttank-erecting position located rearwardly of said main frame and to asecond horizontally extended tank transport position in restingengagement on said main frame,

d. support means on said pivoted frame adjustable longitudinally thereoftoward and away from said one end to an adjusted position such that whenthe pivoted frame is in said upright position said support means, on arearward travel of said trailer, is movable into engagement with thebottom end of a tank to be transported,

e. means for securing a tank resting on said support means to saidpivoted frame, and

f. means including a pivoted linkage system pivotally interconnected tosaid two frames for moving the pivoted frame with a tank secured theretoto said second position therefor.

2. The tank handling trailer according to claim 1,

wherein:

a. said main frame includes a pair of transversely spaced beamstructures,

b. a pair of power operated jack units corresponding to and mounted onsaid beam structures adjacent the front ends thereof,

0. a pair of power operated outrigger units corresponding to andmounted, on said beam. structures adjacent the rear ends thereof,

d. said interconnected means including a power operated linearlyextendible and retractible means,

e. power means on said main frame, and

f. manually actuated control means on said main frame operativelyassociated with said power means to selectively control the operation ofsaid jack units, outrigger units and linearly extendible and retractiblemeans.

3. The storage tank handling trailer according to claim 1, wherein:

a. said support means includes a pair of transversely spaced legextensions on said pivoted frame adjustable longitudinally thereofoutwardly and inwardly relative to said one end, and

b. a foot portion on each leg portion engageable with the underside of atank.

4. The storage tank handling trailer according to claim 3, wherein:

a. said securing means includes coacting engaging portions on the tankand on said pivoted frame, and

b. an adjustable elongated flexible means extendible about a peripheralportion of the tank with the ends thereof connectible to transverselyopposite side portions of said pivoted frame.

5. The tank handling trailer according to claim 1, side members spacedapart a distance correspondwherein: ing to the transverse spacing ofsaid beam struca. said main frame includes a pair of transversely tures,whereby said side members, in the second spaced upright beam structureseach of which has po ion O Sa d pi a O rly only cora front section and arear section, responding ones of said rear sections with the top b. saidrear sections being of a reduced height rela CeS thereof lying in aplane CO OI o e tive to said front sections, and upper surfaces of saidfront sections. c. said pivoted frame having a pair of side members Thetank handling trailer according to Claim each of which is of a widthcorresponding to the wherein:

vertical di t b t h upper Surfaces of a 10 a. each side member is of alength equal substantially front section and a rear section, and of alength one'halfthe length Ofa beam stfucmfeslightly less than the lengthof a rear section, said

1. A trailer for handling storage tanks for transport and erectioncomprising: a. a main frame, b. a pivoted frame, c. means pivotallyconnecting one end of said pivoted frame on said main frame for movementof the pivoted frame to the first upright tank-erecting position locatedrearwardly of said main frame and to a second horizontally extended tanktransport position in resting engagement on said main frame, d. supportmeans on said pivoted frame adjustable longitudinally thereof toward andaway from said one end to an adjusted position such that when thepivoted frame is in said upright position said support means, on arearward travel of said trailer, is movable into engagement with thebottom end of a tank to be transported, e. means for securing a tankresting on said support means to said pivoted frame, and f. meansincluding a pivoted linkage system pivotally interconnected to said twoframes for moving the pivoted frame with a tank secured thereto to saidsecond position therefor.
 2. The tank handling trailer according toclaim 1, wherein: a. said main frame includes a pair of transverselyspaced beam structures, b. a pair of power operated jack unitscorresponding to and mounted on said beam structures adjacent the frontends thereof, c. a pair of power operated outrigger units correspondingto and mounted on said beam structures adjacent the rear ends thereof,d. said interconnected means including a power operated linearlyextendible and retractible means, e. power means on said main frame, andf. manually actuated control means on said main frame operativelyassociated with said power means to selectively control the operation ofsaid jack units, outrigger units and linearly extendible and retractiblemeans.
 3. The storage tank handling trailer according to claim 1,wherein: a. said support means includes a pair of transversely spacedleg extensions on said pivoted frame adjustable longitudinally thereofoutwardly and inwardly relative to said one end, and b. a foot portionon each leg portion engageable with the underside of a tank.
 4. Thestorage tank handling trailer according to claim 3, wherein: a. saidsecuring means includes coacting engaging portions on the tank and onsaid pivoted frame, and b. an adjustable elongated flexible meansextendible about a peripheral portion of the tank with the ends thereofconnectible to transversely opposite side portions of said pivotedframe.
 5. The tank handling trailer according to claim 1, wherein: a.said main frame includes a pair of transversely spaced upright beamstructures each of which has a front section and a rear section, b. saidrear sections being of a reduced height relative to said front sections,and c. said pivoted frame having a pair of side members each of which isof a width corresponding to the vertical distance between the uppersurfaces of a front section and a rear section, and of a length slightlyless than the length of a rear section, said side members spaced apart adistance corresponding to the transverse spacing of said beamstructures, whereby said side members, in the second position of saidpivoted frame, overly only corresponding ones of said rear sections withthe top surfaces thereof lying in a plane common to the upper surfacesof said front sections.
 6. The tank handling trailer according to claim5, wherein: a. each side member is of a length equal substantially toone-half the length of a beam structure.